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Creatine’s Reviews

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Patients Say

Positives

  • Reduced fatigue and better muscle energy: A six‑month study on post‑COVID fatigue syndrome found creatine (4 g/day) improved tissue bioenergetics and cut fatigue scores by roughly 20 %. PMC

  • Cognitive and strength gains in overlapping illness: In a 6‑week magnetic‑resonance study, ME/CFS patients taking creatine showed higher brain phosphocreatine, stronger hand‑grip, and milder mental fatigue—mechanisms thought relevant to Long COVID, too. PubMedPMC

  • Anecdotal “game‑changer” reports: Posts on r/covidlonghaulers describe 5–8 g/day restoring workout tolerance and “lifting the brain‑fog cloud” within a month. Reddit

  • Clinician endorsements for rehab: Pulmonary‑rehab reviews suggest 5 g/day can safely boost functional recovery after COVID‑19, mirroring COPD data. PMC

  • Early expert commentary: University of Nebraska clinicians highlighted three‑month creatine courses that “substantially” eased fatigue and enhanced physical capacity in Long COVID cases. Home

Negatives

  • Symptom flare‑ups for some: Several long‑haulers on Reddit reported worse dizziness, brain‑fog, and “about‑to‑pass‑out” feelings after starting 5 g/day, backing off within days. Reddit

  • Water retention & GI upset: User threads and supplement reviews note bloating, mild diarrhea, or five‑pound weight gain during loading phases. Verywell Health

  • Kidney‑health cautions (low evidence): Case reports raise theoretical risk in those with pre‑existing renal disease, prompting calls for baseline creatinine checks before high‑dose use. PMCPMC

Hurdles & Side Effects

  • Sparse Long‑COVID‑specific trials: Only a handful of small, uncontrolled studies exist; larger RCTs are still being designed, so clinicians must extrapolate from ME/CFS and sports data. PubMedPMC

  • No agreed dosing protocol: Studies range from 3 g to 8 g/day; without guidelines, patients experiment, risking dehydration if fluid intake is low. PMCReddit

  • Product‑quality variability: Over‑the‑counter powders differ in purity; third‑party testing (e.g., NSF Certified for Sport) is advised to avoid contaminants. Verywell Health

  • Expectation management: Benefits are gradual (weeks to months) and largely confined to physical stamina; it is not a cure‑all for autonomic or inflammatory symptoms highlighted in Long COVID. HomePMC

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Tell us how Creatine treated you

Patient reviews are the engine that keeps this page helpful. Whether you improved tremendously, got worse, or landed somewhere in between, your story helps someone with similar conditions make a more intelligent decision. Add your review.

Aari L G

Aari L G

@Aari L G [verified user]

Clearer brain, a bit more energy, no side effects

Chronic Illnesses: Long COVID
Symptoms Treated: Brain Fog - Moderate improvement - 1+ year Energy Level - Moderate improvement - 1+ year

After it was recommended to me, I added powdered creatine to the high-sodium electrolyte mix I drink in water all day every day. I estimate I consume 10-15 g of creatine a day. I added it without thinking much about it (I try new supplements all the time). One day I realized I had been experiencing a consistent increase in mental clarity and energy. I looked up how long it's supposed to take for creatine to work. It said 3 months. I looked up when I had first ordered creatine, and it had been three months since I started taking it. I don't plan to stop. Creatine is a safe, inexpensive compound that has been well-studied. It comes in great tasting gummies as well as flavorless powder. I like adding it to my hydration mix so it's consistently in my system, but I don't know if that's necessary for success. It's one of the few things that has given me a reliable increase in function. Not a cure, but it helps.

Details

  • Dosage 15 g
  • Source amazon
  • Last used <6mo ago
  • Times used 50+ times
  • Insurance covered No
  • Cost per month $1-$99

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